We hope thisfinds you and your loved ones safe and well amidst these challenging times.While Spring has indeed arrived, this one looks infinitely different than most of us have, or ever will likely see again in our lifetime. The telehealth landscape has been rapidly changing alongside the COVID-19 pandemic, and we want you to know that the NETRC team is here to help,as you focus on continuing to deliver care to your patients and communities.With that, our first and most important message is this: THANK YOU, to each and every person who is working on the front lines, whether it be in healthcare and pharmacy, personal care, public health, manufacturing of supplies, utilities, food and grocery, farming, shipping, transportation, and many others who are part of the essential workforce – you are truly our heroes!

This newsletter issue is packed with regional and national policy updates and training resources relating to COVID-19, relevant Federal Grant Program Funding Announcements, upcoming VirtualTelehealth Events (including updates regarding NETRC's 2020 conference plans), and the most recent publications and headlines.

As you might imagine, the NETRC team has seen a massive jump in requests for technical assistance and resources over the past few weeks (around 835% increase across the region!) - we are amazed at the work colleagues are doing to quickly stand up telehealth services, and are expanding our team capacity to keep up with stakeholder needs. We’ve also been receiving a number of questions around potential funding to support provider and patient access to devices and internet services for telehealth, and while they have not yet released the application materials yet, we wanted to be sure that folks were aware of the FCC COVID-19 Telehealth Program, which is funded by appropriations from the CARES Act, and will allocate funds for connected care services, including direct funding for devices and services to eligible providers and organizations. We anticipate the application will be available soon, and will keep you posted.

As always, please feel free to reach out with any questions, for more information on the information below, to share challenges and successes, or just to connect!

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On Behalf of the NETRC Team –All our Best,

Danielle Louder, Director and Reid Plimpton, MPH - Project Manager

Telehealth and COVID-19

Over the past few weeks, telehealth has seen numerous changes in the policy and reimbursement worlds due to COVID-19. These changes have been made in an attempt to best assist providers in their efforts to continue treating their current patients and serve their communities during these unique times, but we know there's a lot to to digest!

The TRCs have been hard at work compiling information as soon it becomes available, and NETRC has recently completed a dedicated section of our website to highlight these materials and more. Be sure to check our COVID-19 webpage for the newest information and materials!

Given the progression of the novel COVID-19 virus and the importance of the healthcare workers who attend our event in mitigating further spread, The NETRC team has decided we cannot move forward with this event as planned, and as many of you may have been expecting, we're confirming that we will not be hosting this event in-person in June of 2020.

While this change of plans is certainly disappointing, we are in the process of preparing some exciting alternatives that we're looking forward to hosting over the coming months, and we will certainly plan to return to our in person event in the future. See below for a few early details!

With Your Health in Mind, We're Shifting Mediums for 2020!

We are currently working with other TRCs around the country to put on a virtual conference in some capacity later this Spring or Summer, and all presentation formats, registration options and potential sponsorships are being explored.

More information will be sent out about the virtual conference as we confirm the timing and agenda, please stay tuned!

Eligible Applicants:Most entities that provide education or healthcare through telecommunications in rural settings, including: Most State and Local Government Entities; Federally Recognized Tribes, Nonprofits; and For Profit Businesses. Rurality score requirements and calculation methods can be found here

Eligible Grant Purposes include: The Acquisition of eligible capital assets; The Acquisition of instructional programming that is a capital asset; Technical assistance and instruction for using eligible equipment.

The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), hereinafter referred to as RUS or the Agency, announced Window 1 for its Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) Grant Program application period for Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 on February 10, 2020.

Due to the impacts of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) virus, the agency has received several requests to extend the deadline. However, the agency believes that extending the window would be counterproductive to getting funds out as quickly as possible to aid in this crisis. As a result, the agency is providing an additional window for those that cannot complete applications prior to the Window 1 deadline.

Grant Objective:The Distance Learning and Telemedicine program helps rural residents tap into the enormous potential of modern telecommunications and the Internet for education and health care, two of the keys to economic and community development.

the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) will host webinars focused on the Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) Grant Program. These webinars will inform participants about the major eligibility and regulatory requirements of the program and will provide detailed guidance on how to submit a successful grant application.

Grant Objective:The primary objective of the Telehealth Network Grant Program is to demonstrate how telehealth programs and networks can improve access to quality healthcare services in rural, frontier, and underserved communities. New to this years' funding, applicants are able to focus their efforts within the Emergency Department (ED) setting as well.

Eligible Applicants: R
ural or urban nonprofit entities that will provide services through a telehealth network.

Eligible Grant Purposes include:
Expanding access to, coordinating, and improving the quality of healthcare services; Improving and expanding the training of healthcare providers; & Expanding and improving the quality of health information available to healthcare providers, and patients and their families, for healthcare decision-making

Due to the level of interest in telehealth and the challenges faced by so many, registration is all that is required to participate in as many live sessions as you'd like to and to ask questions of presenters via chat.

COVID-19 has led to incredible change. This conference will help new providers get started and will help all of us understand the new world of telehealth.

Revised Conference Program Agenda - Just a sampling of the offers provided:

Telehealth101 – get started in telehealth

Telehealth Policy Panel – four nationally renowned telehealth attorneys will share the latest updates in federal and state policies, including reimbursement, HIPAA, broadband options and more

Telehealth Technology Showcase and Telehealth Technology during COVID-19 led by national experts from TTAC

The first in a series of opportunities for hospitals, health systems, and providers to ask questions of agency officials regarding CMS’s temporary actions. Dial-in details below. Conference lines are limited, so it's highly encouraged to join via audio webcast

COVID-19: The Use of Telehealth in Long Term Care Settings During This National Emergency

Join CALTCM and the California Telehealth Policy Coalition for a one-hour webinar focused on key considerations for bringing telehealth to PALTC settings, including use cases, lessons learned from implementations and reimbursement

Telehealth services are sagging under the weight of an unprecedented surge in patients as hospitals scramble to shift routine care online in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The crisis is stressing major telehealth providers’ technical infrastructure and the supply of physicians prepared to deliver care virtually.

While several barriers to care have inhibited telehealth in the past, recent actions by CMS, HHS, and other governing bodies have sought to expand its availability nationwide. Highlighted here is NYU Langone Health's telehealth service Virtual Urgent Care, which connects members with clinicians via phone or tablet to provide care without potential coronavirus exposure.

This article highlights usage of telehealth for screening, triage, and treatment of coronavirus infection cases in China, New York, and Washington State and efforts by the U.S. government to expand Medicare and Medicaid coverage of telehealth services.

Governor Ned Lamont has announced that in order to prepare for coronavirus disease (COVID-19), his administration is working with health insurance carriers in Connecticut to cover the costs for COVID-19 testing and to assure, in accordance with the provisions of a new statute.

As the COVID-19 outbreak encroaches into communities across the US, payers, providers, and vendors are using telehealth to expand access to care. Policies fromBlue Cross Blue Shield Association and other health insurance providers are highlighted.

CMS has selected more than 200 ambulance providers around the country to participate in the Emergency Triage, Treat and Transport (ET3) Model, which favors telehealth programs that assess 911 calls prior to transport.

Some $8.7 million is being made available through the HRSA's Telehealth Network Grant Program for rural providers looking to use telemedicine to extend emergency services like stroke, behavioral health and EMS care.

The Northeast Telehealth Resource Center (a proud member of the
National Consortium of Telehealth Resource Centers) aims to increase access to quality health care services for rural and medically underserved populations through Telehealth. Our service area includes New England, Northern New Jersey, and New York. Learn more at
www.netrc.org

This newsletter was made possible by grant number G22RH30352 from the Office for the Advancement of Telehealth, Health Resources and Services Administration, DHHS